Soil invertebrates in southern Brazilian Araucaria forest - grassland mosaic: differences between disturbed and undisturbed areas

Soil invertebrate distribution in Araucaria forest, grassland and edge habitats was studied in both disturbed and undisturbed areas in southern Brazil. Mean-density and taxa compositions were verified. Invertebrate densities differed between grassland and the other two habitats in the undisturbed area but not across the disturbed one. At the disturbed area taxa differed between the grassland and the other two habitats. The undisturbed area, on the other hand, presented taxa differences only between the grassland and the forest habitats. Acari, Arachnida and Collembola were the most sensitive taxa for detecting differences across habitats in both areas. At the disturbed area, these taxa presented densities lowering from the forest to the grassland. At the undisturbed area the same taxa increased from the forest to the grassland. Coleoptera and Formicidae (Insecta) presented no difference between habitats at the studied taxonomic level.

Drosophilidae (Diptera) associated to fungi: differential use of resources in anthropic and Atlantic Rain Forest areas

This study investigates the Drosophilidae species associated to fruiting bodies of fungi in forested and anthropized environments of the Atlantic Rain Forest Biome, in south and southeastern Brazil. We collected samples of imagoes flying over and emerging from fruiting bodies of species of five fungi families, in six collection sites. We obtained 18 samples, from which emerged 910 drosophilids of 31 species from the genera Drosophila Fallen, 1823, Hirtodrosophila Duda, 1923, Leucophenga Mik, 1886, Mycodrosophila Oldenberg, 1914, Scaptomyza Hardy, 1849, Zaprionus Coquillett, 1901 and Zygothrica Wiedemann, 1830. The Drosophila species collected on fungi, as well as Zaprionus indianus Gupta, 1970, had previously been recorded colonizing fruits, demonstrating their versatility in resource use. Most of these species belong to the immigrans-tripunctata radiation of Drosophila. Our records expands the mycophagous habit (feeding or breeding on fungi) to almost all species groups of this radiation in the Neotropical region, even those supposed to be exclusively frugivorous. Assemblages associated to fungi of forested areas were more heterogeneous in terms of species composition, while those associated to fungi of anthropized areas were more homogeneous. The drosophilids from anthropized areas were also more versatile in resource use.

Culture areas of Nigeria, by Wilfrid D. Hambly -- Frederick H. Rawson-Field Museum Ethnological Expedition to West Africa, 1929-30. 68 plates in photogravure and 1 map.

v.21:no.3(1935)

Endangered Species Act biennial report, status of recovery program / prepared by U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources.

1994-1996

Technological trampolines for new venture creation in Catalonia: the case of the University of Girona

Recent trends in technology transfer show an intensification of spin-off creation as a modality of university research commercialisation, complementary to the conventional ones, contract research and licensing. In this paper we analyse the evolution, objectives, resources and activities of a specialised unit –Technological Trampoline (TT) - in charge of new venture creation at the University of Girona (Catalonia-Spain). Based on two theoretical frameworks, Resource-based-view and Institutional Theory, we adopt a multi-dimensional approach to study the strategy of spinning-off new ventures at the University of Girona in terms of resources and activities, how this process is organised and if the outputs fit with this UdG’s objectives and the local environment. Our main contribution is an in-depth analysis of the spin-off creation unit with special emphasis on its variety of resources and activities. The results have a series of implications and recommendations at both university and TT level.

Milk, from medicine to food Mediterranean Europe: Catalonia, 19th-20th centuries

The spread of milk consumption was a significant change in the diet of Europeans, however it is one that has not been greatly studied with regard to the populations of Mediterranean Europe. In this article we shall analyse the ain circumstances that conditioned that process in Catalonia between the middle of the 19th century and 1936. In our study we shall argue that the consumption of milk in this area was only relevant in the 19th century in situations of illness or old age, and that it subsequently increased and acquired a new significance as a result of various factors. In particular, we shall emphasise: (a) the scientific advances in microbiology and nutrition, (b) the activities carried out by doctors and various public institutions to promote the consumption of fresh milk, and (c) the technological innovations in the milk producing sector. In Appendix 1 we show two maps representing the main territorial references that we shall mention.

Poliomyelitis: epidemiological aspects in Rio de Janeiro (Guanabara State) and adjacent areas in the period from 1961 to 1970

Based on the available data from the Hospital responsible for the care of paralitic poliomyelitis cases in Rio de Janeiro City (Guanabara State) and adjacent areas, and the laboratory studies carried out on these patients, the authors analize epidemiological aspects of poliomyelitis in a period of ten years (1961 to 1970). Paralitic poliomyelitis remains a public health problem, with a typical incidence in the less than 4 year age group. All three poliovirus types have been prevalent for at least one period of time during the last ten years. Trivalent oral vaccine has been used since 1961 but the vaccination levels achieved were not enough to a permanent control of the disease. A definite seasonal distribution of cases could not be observed with the available data. Active mass campaign vaccinations with previous motivation of all segments of the population, specially the low-income groups instead of passive waiting of children in Vaccination Centers seems to be the best aproach to control poliomyelitis in this area.

The principal reservoir host of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the urban areas of Manaus, Central Amazon of Brazil

Twenty one opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) from disturbed primary forest in the vicinity of Manaus, and seven from an isolated island of secondary vegetation within the city of Manaus, were examined for the presence of Leishmania. Of the opossums from the primary forests, 13 (61.9%) were found to be positive for Leishmania braziliensis guyanenesis. One additional opossum was found to be positive for Le. mexicana amazonensis. A simple and economical trapping technique for opossums is presented here, and a control method in special cases is suggested.

The Total fiscal cost of indirect taxation: an approximation using Catalonia's recent input-output table

In this note we quantify to what extent indirect taxation influences and distorts prices. To do so we use the networked accounting structure of the most recent input-output table of Catalonia, an autonomous region of Spain, to model price formation. The role of indirect taxation is considered both from a classical value perspective and a more neoclassical flavoured one. We show that they would yield equivalent results under some basic premises. The neoclassical perspective, however, offers a bit more flexibility to distinguish among different tax figures and hence provide a clearer disaggregate picture of how an indirect tax ends up affecting, and by how much, the cost structure.

Disseny d'itineraris d'educació ambiental en ambients de fons de vall

L’anàlisi de l’estat actual dels equipaments i activitats d’educació ambiental (EA) en l’àmbit del Parc Natural de l’Alt Pirineu (PNAP) ha detectat un grau de desenvolupament molt baix d’aquesta disciplina. Per aquest motiu, s’elabora una nova eina, amb l’objectiu d’establir unes pautes per a l’elaboració d’una activitat d’EA concreta: els itineraris d’EA; i així ampliar l’escassa oferta actual. El protocol per al disseny d’itineraris d’EA, dóna unes directrius per a estandarditzar la descripció i l’anàlisi de la zona proposada. La finalitat del qual és facilitar i agilitar la implantació d’itineraris que presentin unes condicions mínimes establertes. La eficiència d’aquesta eina, queda verificada amb els resultats obtinguts en la realització de dues proves pilot en dues zones amb possibilitats de desenvolupar-hi itineraris d’EA. Una de les zones ha quedat descartada, per l’incompliment d’un dels criteris que s’ha definit en el protocol com a imprescindibles pel bon desenvolupament de l’activitat que es planteja. Mentre que en l’altre zona, el compliment de totes aquestes condicions o criteris, fan viable la implantació de l’itinerari d’EA, duent a terme així el seu posterior disseny. Malgrat l’estudi es centri en un espai natural protegit concret, és una eina que pretén ser extrapolable en d’altres espais d’aquesta categoria.

Estudi sobre el ritme de restauració de les activitats extractives de Catalunya

L’objecte d’aquest projecte és determinar si el ritme restaurador de les activitats extractives és el mateix que el de l’extracció del mineral. Per avaluar-ho s’ha analitzat la dinàmica de les explotacions mineres que exploten els quatre tipus principals de recursos a Catalunya, en el període de 10 anys (1993-2003), amb l’ajuda de Sistemes d’Informació Geogràfica (SIG). Per dur a terme aquest estudi s’ha emprat bases cartogràfiques diferents: els Mapes de cobertes del Sòl de Catalunya (MCSC) i el de les activitats extractives (EXTCATA). A partir de l’anàlisi dels resultats, es determina que si bé, en general, el procés de restauració dels espais afectats per les activitats extractives està sent molt important des de l’entrada en vigor de la Llei 12/1981, no es pot afirmar que aquests treballs es realitzin de forma compaginada amb els d’explotació.

A surgery for American cuteneous and visceral leishmaniasis among 1,342 dogs from areas in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) where the human diseases occur

There are areas in the periphery of Rio de Janeiro city where human cases of Visceral and/or Cutaneous Leishmaniasis occur. The parasites have been identified as Leishmania donovani and Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis respectively. A survey for Leishmaniasis was done among 1,342 dogs from those areas using an indirect immunofluorescent test. From the dogs, 616 came from areas where only human cases of Visceral Leishmaniasis occurred, 373 from an area where all human cases were of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and 353 from a third area (Campo Grande) where both visceral and cutaneous human cases were detected. The prevalence of parasite antibody titers among dogs from areas of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis was significantly higher than that of Visceral Leishmaniasis (8.6% vs. 4.3%, p < 0.02). The highest prevalence was observed among dogs from the area where both diseases are present (12.7%).